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“He is in good spirits. He just wants to play. He wants to train each week, play at the weekend and we will see the best of him, I am sure.

“I genuinely believe he can (get back to his best), he looks in good shape and is training consistently on the field, and I could not be more impressed with the lines he was running in attack, his communication and what he was doing defensively.

“To say he has not been playing much just shows how much of a world-class player he really is. I want him outside of me, that’s for sure.

“With Matt Toomua inside him, it gives us another organiser.

“We want to give Manu the ball one-on-one if we can, or give him ball when he has space to run at someone.”

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Despite his recent discrepancy when he was sent home from England’s training camp by head coach Eddie Jones after a late-night drinking session, Ford thinks the 26-year-old still has an international future ahead of him, if Jones is prepared to forgive him.

“It’s up to Eddie and the other coaches who have said to him to go back to Tigers and play consistently well first,” said Ford.

“If he gets a run of games, he will definitely put his hand up. Manu was very remorseful for what he did. He said he made a poor decision but, at Leicester, everyone has moved on very quickly from it.

“At his best, Manu is a world-class player, and everyone has been putting their energy into getting him on the field and making him the best player he can be.”